Translucent sundial



July 28, 1936. M, WE|52 2,049,934

TRANSLUCENT SUNDIAL FiledNov. 1', 1935 Patented July 28, 1936 UNITED STATE 2,049,034- TRANSLUCENT sUNDniLV Martin Weisz, New York.' N. Y.

Application November 1, 1935, serial Ne. 47,763

Claims.

, This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sun dials and has particular reference to a translucentsun dial. v

It is an object of this invention to construct 5 a sun dial plate which is adapted to bev placed with its back to the sun, and to mount a gnomon on the back thereof which is adapted to cast a shadow of the suns rays upon the back of the dial plate so that the shadow may be seen from the front and the time read.y Y

i Ay further object of the invention is to adjustably mount the translucent .dial plate upon a vertical axis so that the sun dial may-be set on windows facing in different directions, and properly adjusted relative to the sunfor the correct operationrthereo When thus constructed, vthe l,sun dial is adapted to be used indoors in sun parlors,V sun rooms, or in any other sun swept Window, andmay be adjusted to face a predetermined direction, as south for the proper operation thereof.` v ,i .A still further object of the invention is the arrangement of a sundial in which thenumbering of the hour lines reads in al clockwise direction, contrasted with the reading of corresponding lines in a conventional sun dial in counter-clockwise rotation.A y n Still further, the invention-contemplates` the association of a photograph with the dial plate for ornamental purposes, and for utilitarian reasons such as shading off the mounting of the gnomon. Y

y Still further the invention proposes toponstruct the translucent dial plate from parchment ofa particular Msubstance-found by experiment to be advantageous. y p

It is further proposed to paint'or -imprint certain colors upon the back side ofthe parchment which will bre-viewable from the frontthereof when the sun dial is in the rays of the sun. The invention also contemplates a novel construction for detachably mounting the gnomon Vin position on the parchment.

v Y As another object of this invention a novel arrangement is proposed for mounting Vthe photograph upon the parchment. V

Another object of the invention is the. con- -struction of a device as described which issimple and durable and which may be manufactured 50 and sold at a reasonablel cost. f

For further comprehension ofthe invention,

'and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and the appended yMENT oFFicl:

claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth. y

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosurez'- f t Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a sun dial ,-5 constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional Viewk .theline 3 3 of Fig. 1. j

Fig.v 4 is a rear elevationalvview of Fig. 1'. l0` Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. l

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectona View taken on the line. 6-6 of Fig. 4. i Y

The translucent sun dial, according to this 15 invention, comprises a translucent dial'plate IU adapted to be placed with its back` to the sun, and a gnomon II mounted upon the back Vof the dial plate and adapted to cast a shadow ofthe suns rays upon the back of the dial plate so that 2o theshadow may be seen from the front and the time of day read. 5 f

More particularly, the translucent platefV II) consists of a pane of' glass Illa.,loehind'vvhic'h a sheet ofl porcelain-finished Japanese parchment 2 5 Ib ismounted. The pane Illa and the pach- 'A ment I IIb are mounted within a conventional picture frame I2. Nails I3, driven intov the sides of the picture. frame, serve to hold the parchment and pane in position. The pictureV frame @il I2 is adjustable about a vertical axis on asupport I 4. This support comprises a, base'portion I 4a. fromwhich a vertical arm |42)` extends. The vertical arm is connected at the top with a short horizontal arm |40. .A pivot I5' is engaged through the arm I 4c and engages intoA the top side of the frame I2. A bottom pivot I 6is engaged through the base IlIa. and engages into the bottom side of the frame I 2.

Washers I'I are interposed between the frame I2 and the support to provide a clearance for the proper pivoting of the frame. The pivots .I5 and I6 are vertical and aligned with each other so that the support may be rested uponawindow sill or other object, and the frame turned to'be .45 directed towards the south, or other predetermined direction. In Fig. 2 the dot and dash lines, indicated by the reference numeral" I2, showa turned position of the frame relativeto the support. Y The front side of theiparchment IIlb is imprinted with radial numbered hour lines I 8;. It should be noted that these numbered'hour lines read clockwise, which is very desirable in Athat the public has become accustomed to readinga taken `on= clock in that fashion. This is in distinct contrast with conventional sundials in which the numbered hour lines read anti-clockwise. It is possible, and necessary, to have the numbered hour lines IB read clockwise because the gnomon II is attached on the rear of the translucent dial plate and the device is positioned to have the sun strike the rear.

To add to the eect of the sun dial the rear face of the parchment 'IGb is paintedwith translucent yellow paint emphasizing the hour lines I8. This may be clearly seen in Fig. 4 wherein the paint is indicated by reference numeral I8. The

arrangement is such that when thesun shines.

through the translucent plate thefillurninated `yellow will have the appearance of gldenays.

graphin` position.' The gnomon I I is attached in a very novel fashion.l Thereis a reinforcementstrp 22 attached upn-therear faceof theparchment IIJb in the vicinityof the gnomon. This reinforcementstrip andthe parchnent are cut. outto form upwardly directed prongs" 23. The photograph 20 serves to hide the cut out areas produced by the' formation ofthe prong`s23,` and'also serves to cast a concealing' shadow over .the base of thegnomon.

.The gnomon IIhas a base flange II which'is formed with apair'. of slits'. '24, through which tli'e: prongs 23 extend. The gnomon .mayl'belre'g moved ,b y. forcing itfupwards Aso as to liftfit'free from the" prongs 23. These prongs 2,3 are" of triangular shape, .as shown in Fig. 4. Threin'- Lforcement strip 22 is of a size so as to be hid from ,view and isY located beneath thebase `I I'jof the gnomon 1For" outdoor use porcelain'.forv milked `glass (opal glass). should be used as theA material '..Orthe translucent plate.` 'The operation of the device consists merelyin .parchment and picture facing` inwards relative .to the roomf The sun striking the outer side of V.the sun dial will illuminate the back of the Vparchment, except where, the shadow is cast byfthe .gnomon II.

A Y This gnomon is so. designed thatY the shadow will fall upon the hourrlines upon the parchmentand indicate the correct time of. day.

'proverb such asI .Count None But` Sunny H'ours is inscribed upon the parchment I vIll) Labove thephotograph', andthe rear of the parchment vis ltreated with translucent yellow paint, togive the proverb a glowing eiect when the device is in ,thesum t QWhilezI have illustrated andV described ymy invention' with' some 1 deg-ree Vof particularity,- I .realizethatin practice various alterations therein may be made. I therefore reserve the right -and privilege of Ychangingthe form of. the `details 'of construction or otherwise altering the arrangement vof the" correlated parts without departing from? the'spirit4 or theV scope-'fof the appended Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. A translucent sun dial, comprising a translucent dial plate adapted to be placed with its back to the sun, and a gnomon on the back of said dial plate adapted to cast a shadow from the suns rays on the back of said dial plate so that the shadow may be seen from the front of the dial plate andthe timeof day read.

2. A translucent sun dial, comprising a translucent dial plate adapted to be placed with its .back to the sun, and a gnomon on the back of said dial plate adapted to cast a shadow from the suns rays`bn`the' back of said dial plate so that the shadow may be seen from the front of the dial plate andthe time Aof day read, said dial plate beingniuntedwithina frame which is supported ona stand so as to be adjustable about a verticelaxisf,

ffilshlent'su? dial Comp'singa'traI-S lucent/*dial plate' adapted; to be placed" with Vits backtonthe sun; anda gnomon on the backof said ldialfplateadapted to cast av shadow fromnthe suntsjrays onjthe backof saiddial plate softhat theshadow maybe seen from the -front ofthe dial plate and the'time of day read,said dial plate being imprinted with numbered radial hour lines arranged'with the numbers 'thereon indicating the hours andk reading clockwise.

i. vA translucent sunj dial, comprising a-translucentdial:plate adapted tofbeplaced with its back tothe a gnomon ontlie` back of said dial .plate 4adapted to ca st -a shadow Afrom the suns raysl onth'back 'of 4said dial plate so that the shadow may be' seen from the'ront ofthe dial Vplateand the vtime ofVA day read, and a` concealinglementfmounted 'on saidls'un dial at'the center of theradiation of said hour linesfor covering 'said gnomon "and concealing a portion? of its shadow from view through said dial plate.'

lucent d i'al plate Vadapted* to be placedwithri'ts vback. t'o-the sun," a gnomon on theback ofsai'd `dial plate adapted to cast a shadow from the siins rays on the back-'of said dial-plate so thatthe shadow Ymaybe seen-fronifthe5front of thesdial plate and thetime Vof'day read, said" dial plate 'comprisingra'pane ofglassand a sheetof porce- 'lain-nished Japaneselparchment.'

` 6. A translucent sun dial," comprising a 'translucentvdial plate adapted to. be placed with? its `back to the sun', a'gnII-,l'n on the back of 'said 'dial platev adapted to hcasta shadow fromjthe sunsrays on th'back of Vsaid dial plateV s'othat the shadow may `be seen from the front of the 'dial plateiandftlie time of day read," said dial plate comprising a pane of glass `and a 'sheet of porcelain-finished Japanese parchment, anda concealing' elementcovering Ysaid gnomon and conce'aling'al portion of its shadow'from View through said 'dial plate rnounted'uponV the front face 0i said parchment at 'the ptical center` of the dial plate, and held in position by several prongs cut from the` parchment and engaging over the edges of the element.

7. A ltranslucent sundial, comprising'a translucent/dialv plate adaptedto be placed with its back to themsun, a gnomon on the back of said dial plate adapted tocast a shadow from the suns v`rays' on lthe back of said dial `plate so that the Vshadowunay be seen from the front of the dial plateand the time of day read, said dial plate comprisingV a pane of glass and a sheetiof porcelain-iinished Japanese parchment, said dial plate being imprinted with radially numbered hour lines thereon to give the hours of the day.

8. A translucent sun dial, comprising a translucent dial plate adapted to be placed with its back to the sun, a gnomon on the back of said dial plate adapted to cast a shadow from the suns rays on the back of said dial plate so that the shadow may be seen from the front of the dial plate and the time of day read, said dial plate comprising a pane of glass and a sheet of porcelain-finished Japanese parchment, a reinforcee ment strip of material being secured on said parchment beneath said gnomon, said reinforcement and parchment being formed with cut out upward extending prongs on which the gnomon is mounted.

9. A translucent sun dial, comprising a translucent dial plate adapted to be placed with its back to the sun, a gnomon on the back of said dial plate adapted to cast a shadow from the suns rays on the back of said dial plate so that the shadow may be seen from the front of the dial plate and the time of day read, said dial plate comprising a pane of glass and a sheet of porcelain-finished Japanese parchment, a reinforcement strip of material being secured on said parchment beneath said gnomon, said reinforcement and parchment being formed with cut out upward extending prongs on which the gnomon is mounted said gnomon having slots to engage said prongs.

10. A translucent sun dial, comprising a translucent dial plate adapted to be placed with its back to the sun, a gnomon on the back of said dial plate adapted to cast a shadow from the suns rays on the back of said dial plate so that the shadow may be seen from the front of the dial plate and the time of day read, said dial plate comprising a pane of glass and a sheet of porcelain-finished Japanese parchment, a reinforcement strip of material being secured 0n said parchment beneath said gnomon, said reinforcement and parchment being formed with out out upward extending prongs on which the gnomon is mounted, said gnomon having slots to engage said prongs, and an element mounted upon said parchment for concealing the shadow of the mounting of the gnomon.

MARTIN WEISZ. 

